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San Antonio Resting Stars Is Good For Spurs, But Bad For NBA

The Spurs star trio were resting at home Thursday night, while the team faced the Heat in Miami. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The San Antonio Spurs have been the NBA’s model franchise the past 15 years. They have won 70% of their regular season games–the best record in major pro sports–and four NBA titles since coach Gregg Popovich and center Tim Duncan joined the team in 1997. They’ve won without breaking the bank on payroll like the Los Angeles Lakers and consistently sold out AT&T Center since it opened in 2002.

But Thursday night, Popovich and the Spurs stuck it to the NBA and commissioner David Stern by having its three stars, Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, plus starting guard Danny Green sent home to San Antonio to rest, while the remaining Spurs faced off against the Miami Heat in a nationally televised game from Miami. The Spurs were already missing key players Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard because of injury. The game originally seen as a potential NBA Finals preview had the potential to resemble a Harlem Globetrotters versus Washington Generals game. Instead, the nine Spurs that dressed put up a valiant effort, including a five point lead with two minutes left, before the Heat prevailed 105-100.

Stern was not amused. He issued a statement just before the game started saying: “I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming.” Expect a hefty fine for the Spurs and Popovich and a possible suspension for the coach.

The Spurs were playing their fourth game in five nights and their 11th road game in November and Popovich didn’t want to tax his stars. This is not the first time Popovich has rested his veterans. He rested his star trio three times together last year during the lockout shortened season, including a skipped trip to Utah (the Spurs led that Utah game until the fourth quarter as well before losing). Pop was hardly chastised. He won the Coach of the Year award in 2012, while leading the Spurs to the best record in the NBA.

Popovich has always taken a long view of the NBA season, knowing the real action starts in April with the playoffs. It is hard to argue with the results. His teams have made the playoffs all 15 years that he has been in charge. He carefully manages his players minutes, particularly with Duncan, 36, and Ginobili, 35. Popovich said on Thursday that he made the decision to sit his stars in July when he saw his team’s schedule for this season. Popovich’s actions were in the best interest of the Spurs for their long term success.

The problem this go around is that Thursday night was not a meaningless regular season April road game in Utah. It was a high profile nationally broadcast game on TNT. The NBA’s broadcast partners, TNT and ESPN/ABC, pay $930 million annually on average under the contract that started with the 2008-09 season. The current deal runs through the 2015-16 season and negotiations on new contracts should commence in the next 12 months. The NBA will want a hefty increase to match the dramatic rise in media rights deal in other sports and it can’t risk Thursday’s resting of stars becoming a regular occurrence.

The NBA already faces criticism that regular season games don’t matter for the elite teams and it is all about preparing for the playoffs. The NBA is a star-driven league and fans often buy tickets to see players from visiting teams. Duncan, Ginobili and Parker are stars of that magnitude and Thursday was the Spurs only visit to Miami this year, barring an NBA Finals match-up. Tickets cost nearly $50 on average across the league, excluding premium seating, according to Team Marketing Report. The NBA needs fans to know that barring injury, a team’s star players will be suiting up. The NBA will come down hard on the Spurs and Popovich to protect its media partners and fans.

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The only reason Stern was upset is because the NBA, its sponsors, and TNT had anticipated big ratings and Popovich, upset at the awful scheduling, hit David $tern where it mattered most: his pockets.

So what does the NBA/David $tern do? Instruct the referees to call a tight game and no fouls for the Heat so the viewers don’t turn the game off after the 1st quarter (if they even bothered to view the game at all).

Gotta give it to $tern, he knows how to fool the masses … just not everyone.

Will be interesting to see TV ratings from last night’s game. Pop sitting stars and Spurs keeping it close made it an even bigger game than normally would. No doubt a lot more people tuned in after hearing on Twitter/FB what was going on.

So what it all amounts to is the money not the game, players, or the fans! I like what Dwayne Wade said, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing from the team, the Spurs are great and they showed up last night! Leave Pop alone and let him manage HIS team like he has for all these years! He is the best coach in the NBA! I’m a huge Spurs fan and I had NO problem with his decision!

I don’t think any Spurs fans had a problem with his decision. He did what was in the best interest of his team. It’s the rest of the league and its TV partners that would be concerned. Sports teams don’t operate in a bubble. They are part of a collective league and why sports leagues are given an antitrust exemption.

Can we say it was a great coaching move. Coach Popovich has to know what type of players and desire sits on that bench. They do present the same skills as the three All-Stars. As for the fans not getting their money’s worth. I disagree, as the game was competitive. Reminded me of VCU against Duke. Lets make sure that Popovich gets the credit for his future forecasting on his team.

Dangerous territory when league commish starts dictating roster tactics to teams. This isn’t a team looking to get more balls in the lottery at the end of the season by tanking games. This is a proven coach trying to manage the health of veteran players. Would be very disappointed to see sanction against Spurs.

When the most important stakeholders of the NBA are mistreated, that should rightfully take precedence over team’s individual agendas.

I totally understand why Pop wants to rest his players and send them home to their families, but he can’t pretend that he works in a bubble, and his decision may snowball into a rule change where he won’t be able to exercise that freedom anymore. So for a number of reasons, his timing was poor. But he isn’t stupid. He probably wanted to have a jab at the NBA for such a rough schedule.

man up spurs and play ball. its the first month of the season. stop acting like little b***hes. I have to work 2 jobs 5 days a week and i dont b***h as much as your organization so cut the s**t and play ball.

hoe up bia*ch! Sounds like ur on the first day of ur period…Boing..Boing..Boing! And your team won by how many points…? Sh!t, what the buck was dat even wit all yo best players playin’ ball. 2 much pay 4 peeps da fans are tired of watchin’! Pops, U Rule! Stern, kissin much azz!